Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
There are 17 casinos in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and all but one of them have a traditional table game setup with live dealers. That one exception is Parx Shippensburg in Southampton Township, Cumberland County. Since the casino opened back in 2023, it has had a hybrid gaming table setup in the middle of the facility. This includes 48 electronic table game terminals with blackjack, roulette, and three-card poker, with live dealers dealing real cards and spinning a real roulette wheel. But according to a petition which Parx Shippensburg filed with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the casino operator is requesting to make major changes, including launching traditional live table games for the first time. Parx plans to remove the 48 electronic table games and replace them with 12 live table games with 72 seats/positions. The 12 live table games will include six Blackjack tables; a couple of three-card Poker tables, two Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables, and two Roulette tables. “In modifying its gaming floor with the introduction of live table games, Parx seeks to adequately serve the market’s demand,” the casino operator said in the petition. The casino’s 31,200-square-foot gaming floor would remain the same, and the casino’s 495 slot machines will remain. Parx Shippensburg will continue to maintain a smoke-free gaming floor. The casino is also requesting that the requirement for a separate chip bank to support table games operations be waived. “Parx respectfully submits the within Petition should be granted because Parx has demonstrated that there are sound business reasons for the proposed modifications to its gaming floor — namely, the removal of underperforming gaming units and placement of twelve (12) live table games which Parx anticipates will improve the casino’s performance,” the company said. PennLive reached out to a Parx Casino spokesperson, but the casino wasn’t ready to share information at this time. The company is hiring dealers for “live table games.” “Parx Shippensburg is finally bringing live table games to our location!” the casino said in a job listing on its website. Parx Shippensburg is the only casino in the state that doesn’t offer traditional table games, according to Douglas Harbach, director of communications for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The petition will likely be on the gaming control board’s agenda in December or January, although that could change, according to Harbach. The casino is Pennsylvania’s newest casino. It is located at a former Lowe’s store at 250 South Conestoga Drive. In addition to the electronic table games and slot machines, the casino also has sports wagering kiosks, a small entertainment venue, and several dining options.
